Lace-tipping machine



June 30, 1925.

C. A. MATSON LACE TIPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 30, 1925.

C. A. MATSON LACE TIPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2. 1925? /g ,44M Ziozvialy Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES CARL A. MATSON, OF LYNNFILD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MATSON LACE TIPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LACE-TIPPING MACHINE.

T0 all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARL A. MATsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynniield, in the county of Esse-X and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Ii'nprovement in Lace-Tipping Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings represent-ing like parts.

My present invention relates to lace tipping machines, and more particularly to an automatically operating lace tipping ma-d chine for applying a molded or mol-dable composition material to f-orm a fabric tip.

In my 4co-pending application for lace tipping machines, Serial No. 592,814, filed Oct. 6, 1922, I have described and claimed a lace tipping machine which will automatically feed an endless lacing to the machine where the fabric tip comprised of molded or moldable material is secured to the ends of the separate lacings, the endless lacing being cut into lacings of any desired length, and in this machine I have particularly described and claimed a means for continuously feeding an endless lacing to the machine and I. have, in connection with this feeding means, described and claimed a structure for adjusting the length of the lacing to be cut from such endless lacing. In this, my present, machine,-'I have devised an improved form of lac-ing feeding machine, and one of the principal objects of my present invent-ion is, therefore, an impro-ved lacing feeding means adapted to feed continuously an endless lacing to a lace tipping machine where it is to be subdivided into a plurality of lacings of predetermined. length.

In connection with the lacetipping machine described and claimed in the application above referred to, I havefdescribed and claimed means for predetermining the length of the various lacings to be cut from the lacing of indeterminate length. such means cooperating with the means forfeeding continuously the lace of indeterminate length to the machine. In my present invention I have devised an improved `means for predetermining the length of the lacings into which the lacing of indeterminate length is to be divided and such means cooperates with the improved lace feeding means above Application led January 2, 1923. Serial No. 610,142.

referred to. Another object of my invention, therefore, is an improved adjustable means for predetermining the length of lacing to be cut from the lacing of indeterminate length.

In the improved lace tipping machine forming the subject matter of my application above referred to, the machine has the lacing of indeterminate length fed continuously in a plurality ofvsuccessive loops and I have described and claimed improved means for grasping each loop at a pair of points spaced apart from each other, and between which point-s the molded or moldable material is applied to the lacing', the lacing of indeterminate length being' severed at the point where the tipping material is applied to cut t-he lacing of indeterminate length into separate lacings of predetermined length. As the lacing is fed through the machine, such gripping points release the lacing and means are employed to forcibly remove the lacing from the gripping points. Under certain conditions which may arise, such means for removing the lacing' from the grippingmeans will fail to operate, and to remove this objection I have, in my present invention, devised an improved means for forcibly feeding the lacing out of engagement with the gripping means, such feeding means moving at a greater speed than the gripping means. A further object of my present invention, therefore, is an improved means for removing the lacing from the feeding and gripping means.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my vinvention, only so much of the .machine being shown las is necessary to illustrate the application of my invention to a. lace tipping machine,

. Fig. 1 is aside elevation;

F ig. 2 is a front elevation. of the adjustable measuring means for predetermining the length of lacing to be cut from the lacing of indeterminate length; certain portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the location of the holding and length adjusting arms;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the lace tipping machine showing the means for driving the lace :feeding means:

rd y Fig. 5 is a. sectional side elevation ot a fragment of the machine taken en the lineV pedestal that may be desired, and secured to such base in any suitable manner is a 'hollow frame 11 having formed,integral-therewith, and at one end thereof, bearings 12. Secured to the `base at one.y side .thereofis-a bearing .standard 13i provided with a bearing `14 inalinement with the bearings 12 and in thebearings 124 and 1413's rotatably mounted a shaft 15 having secured at the end Aremote fromthebearing 144 a hand or fly wheel 1G, while mounted on the shaft 15.between one of the bearings 12V and the 4bearing 14are tight andloose ,pulleys `17 and 18 respectively. Securedv to the shaft 15, and between ,the bearings 12 is an eccentric (not shown) .about which is fitted an eccentric strap 20, .this ecc'entricstrap -201being connected in any suitableniannen to one end of a connectrod 21, the ether end ofthis `connecting rod -beingfattaclied to a member 22 sliding Iin suitable bearingsiin a` housing 3` formed integral with, and. at one end ot,- the hollow `frame 11. VThe sliding ,member 22 ,has ,formed integral :therewitha downwardly ezitendingportion 24 which, in its sliding inioveinent,imparts a` reciprocating motion 7 to the .connecting rod `2.5 which, through connections (not shown), imparts an intermittent rotary movement to ashaft 2G that retatably mounted in bearings formed in .the 'extension 27 ,attached to, or formed integral-with, thevhousing Suitable means 'is securednn lthe shaft-26 for ldrivingthe shaft which is rotatably mounted in-.the extension 27 and on either end of said shaft 29 is secured a sprocket 30. `The particular construction of the mechanism for vimparting the intermittent rotary-movementto the shatt 26 Vforms no partof theV present invention and it' has, therefore, not been fully shouf'n.and will .not belfurther,described. Suchmechanism has beenv fully shown and described in my application above referred Vto and reference is hereby madevtosaid application forafull disclosure of this mechanisnr.- At the end of the eatensien27 is theshaft 31 on each end of'which is rotatably mounted` a sprocket 32, whilein the-extension 27 'is rotatably mounteda shaftto theiends .of which, and exterior vof the extension 27, is Vsecured .an armBil, each arm having rotatably mounted on its outer, or iree,nend an idler sprocket Over the Nsprockets 30, 32, and.35 .oneachside off the extensionf27 vrunsajfeed chain 36, veaclrlink of which is provided with a gripping ingerf. lil-X- tending outwardly Yfrom each side of the extension 27 is a boss 38 through which threads an adjusting bolt 39 andby means of which tension `on the feed chain 36 is adjusted. The sprockets and 32 are so arranged as to guide the feed chains 36 in a `relativelyV straight or flat reach leading `from the outer endet -the extension V27' `inwardly to the right, as viewed in Fig.` 1, toward the shaft 15.

,In order tovsimplify. the showing of the piesentiinvention, only one side, that in Fig. 1, of the machine has been illustrated, ,but it is to `be understood thatthe mechanism above described with reterenceto the sprockets and `teed chainsis duplicated on ,the .other side of the machine and such construction has been fully villustrated in my co-pending application referred to.

Beneath the straight upper reaches of the i feed chains 3G and ll in." between the same is a heating elementf40 ,pref'erablyyan electrical heating element, while arranged above such straight reaches of the feed. chainiand Ybetween the same `is aheating element 41 which is secured toy an arm 42 that fis pivotally `mounted in bearings i 43 formed integral with. a `plate ,44that is` securedto the upper lace. of thexhousing 23by bolts 45, ahandle .46 ,being provided orraising such heating Velement 41 upwardly out of its normal posik,tion YPassingV through the arm 42 is an adiustine screwj47 which engages with the up- .per surface of the plate 44 for adjusting the vposition ofv the' heating .element 41 relative to .the plane. `passing through the upper reaches of thejfeed chains 36.

Secured to eaclrend of the shaft 26 exterior ofthe extension?? is a gear wheel-28 each ont' which mesheswith, and drives,'a gear wheel 48 rotatably mounted on each end of l.the shaft 29, these .gears 29 being also mounted exterior of the extension 27.` To each ot qthe gears 48 is secured by pin49a circular fplate or hub 50 to the periphery et each et which` are secured a plurality ot tangenl ll) tially arranged. arms51, these arms Jbeing i f .secured tothe circular plate or hub 50V `byscrews .52,thearms51 rotating on the shaft 29 is a `verticalplane adjacent to the vertical plane in which lies the feed chains 3G. =The diameters oit the gear-,wheels 22S and 48L are so proportioned vrelatively to the ydriving means for .the sprockets S30-,that the surface speed ofithe circular plates orfhubsOis approximately twicefthe` surtacespeed oit the iced chains 36, and itwill be obvious, therei".ore,.iro1n anA inspectionof Fig. 6, that an arm 51, in its rela-tively` `faster movement than the feed chain 36, will engage withthe lacing 53 held `between the 1grippingi' linger 87 and-.a block of the chain andwill force the. same outwardly from `between such gnippingnger 37 andthe block `ci the 'feed chain 36. A

Mounted on, or 'formeel integral with, the shaft l5 between one of the bea-rings l2 and the hand or fly wheel 16 is aspiral gear or worm 54 which meshes with, and drives, a-

- spiral gear or worm wheel 55 that is secured to a shaft 56 rotatably mounted in a bearing 57 secured to, or formed integral with, a bearing plate 58 attached in any convenient manner to thel end of the hollow frame 1L Secured to one end of the shaft 56 is acircular plate l58which has extending outwardly therefrom a crank pin 59 on which is rotatably mounted one end of the connecting rod 60, the other end of this rod being attached at 6l to a segmental gear 62 that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 63 secured to the plate 56 and this segmental gear -62 meshes with,v and drives, a spur gear 64rsecured by pin 65 to one end of the shaft 66 rotatablymounted in the plate 58. The other end of this shaft 66 is detachably connected to a shaft 67 by a clutch member 68 and this shaft 67 extends downwardly at an angle to the horizontal to a point substantially beneath the shaft 3l. Rota-tion of the shaft l5 causes arotation of the shaft 56, and by means of the connecting` rod 60 an oscillatory movement is imparted to the segmental gear 62 and therefore by means of the spur gear 64 and shaft 66, to the shaft 67. Secured to the end of the shaft 67 remote from the shaft 66 and extending laterally outward therefrom are parallel rods or tubes 69 provided at their outer ends with a tube 7() which extends laterally through the tubes or rods 69 and parallel to the shaft 67. The shaft 67 is oscillated in the manner above described and imparts anfoscillating movement to the rods or tubes 69 a d the tube 70y through substantially 1600, the segmental gear 62 being so arranged with respect to the spur gear 6l and to the shaft 56 that the oscillating movement of the rods or tubes 69 and the tube 70 is in the upper part'of the 'circle in which its movement taires place.

Secured to the base or support l0 on each side of the hollow frame 1l are standards 7l secured together and spaced apart by means of arod 72, and secured to the upper endsA of vthese standards or uprights 7l is a rectangular bar 73. Slidably mounted on the rod 72 is a member Tl the upper end of which is forked at 75 and which embraces the rectangular rod '73, a set screw 76 being employed to hold the member Min any desired position with respect to the rod 72. The member 74 intermediate its ends is provioed with an enlargement 77 in which is secured a rod 78 which extends in a direction away from the shaft l5, its free end being curved upwardly to a point adjacent the shaft 31 and also with a storage rod 79 which extends substantially horizontal and is provided on its outer end with a cam plate 8O that is arranged in a vertical plane and with a rod Si which extends outwardly at an angle to thev main portion of the rod 79, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It .is understood, of course, that there are a pair of standards or uprights 7l with the mechanism above described on each side of the hollow frame ll. and that, therefore, there is a rod 76 and a storage rod 79 on each side of the extension 27. The rod 79 is called a storage rod because of the fact tha loops of lacing` are stored thereon prior to the feeding of such loops through the machine.

The rods 7 8 and 79 and cam member 80, as well as theoutwardly extending` rod v81, cooperate with the gripping fingers 37 on the feed chains 36 and with ,the rods or tubes 69 and tube 7() on the shaft 67 to feed loops of lacing from the lacing of indeterminate length into the machine. The manner in which this feeding operation is performed is as follows: It is assumed that the end of the lacing 56 of indeterminate length which is located on a reel or other suitable device adjacent to the machine is threaded through the tubing 70 and fastened to any convenient portion of the machine. The shaft 15 is rotated in the usual manner, as by a belt over the tight pulley 17 which, through the medium of the depending portion 24 of the sliding member 22 and the connecting member 25, imparts an intermittent step by step movement to the feed chains 36 which feed chains, as they pass over the sprockets 32, separate the lingers 37 from the associated blocks. Also, the shaft l5, through the gears 54, 55, segmental gears 62, and pinion 6st impart an oscillating movement to the shaft 67 and, therefore, to the rods or tubes 69 and tube 70. As the tubes or rods 69 and the tube 70 swing in an arc about the shaft 67 as a center from the position shown in Fig. l, the lacing is brought over the top of, and lies on, therods 78, Vand owing to the upward curve of the ends of such rods 78, such lacingv tends to slide downwardly int-o engagement with the feed chains 36. During this movement of the tube 7() that carries the lacing 53,.such lacing engages the practically vertical edge of the cam member 80, and when the tube 70 reaches the extreme limit of its travel and starts on its return movement, a slack loop is formed in the lacing 53 and this loop slides down on the vertical face of the cam 80 and catches at the lower pointed end thereof and, as the lacing 53 is paid out by the tube 70 on the return movement, such payed out portion is'drawn over the free ends of the rods 78, the loop formed in the end being guided by the rear bevel portion of the cam 80 and by the outwardly extending rod 81 backwardly onto the storage rod 7 9. The feed chains 36 in their intermittent lll) stepby step movement overthe sprockets 32 separate the gripping fingers 37 fromthe associated block and the hook device formedV by the gripping fingers and associated blocks successively takel up the lengths lof lacing 53. As the feed chains V36 move forivard into the straight reach 4betvfeen the sprocket 32 and 30, the gripping fingers 37 automatically move into position against their associated blocks, gripping the lengths of llacing and holding them in position during the Ytravel of the feed chains. The lengths of lacing` are fed between the heating elements 40, and 4l, it being understood, of course, that molded orV moldable material isapplied toga portionl of such short: length of lacing prior` .to coming `Within .the .influence of such heating'elements. As, vhowever, the' operation .ofr applying the Y molded or -moldablei material andthe subsequent .operations on suchinolded or moldable material formnofpart ofthe present invention, such.inechanismyhas not been shown and will not -bewfurtlier 4described for referred to. Such'` mechanism and the manner of its operation fis shown andldescribed in my -copending .application above referred to and reference `=is hereby: made to 4such applica- ,tion for a yfull disclosure thereof. As the lengths of lacing are' fed into the machine and ktoward!thevfmain shaft l5,4V they are severed, after the .operationfof applying the molded or' Yinoldablematerial and such lengthsxremain on the rods 79 from which they may `be periodically i removed.

.After the.moldedorgnioldable material has been firmly -placedon the lacing 53 that lies between fthe. feed chains 36 andv the `lacing severed at suchpoint, `the feed chains 36 pass .over tiliersprockets 30 Where, as shown' in Eig. G, the gripping :lingers 37 move outf ,wa-rdlyffroin their associated blocks with a vieivf'toallowingthelacing 53 todrop off the .feedclia iiis. .Such dropping otff of the `lacing 535s insuted byithe arms-51 on the circular plate or hub .50 Awhich, as lstated above,-has a .greater surface-speed than the speed of the feed chain 36, In order tov adjust, or predeterinine, thev ,lengthjof short lacin gs to be made from the lacing53vof indeterminate length, .the sliding member'lr, carrying :the rods ,78 and 79,' :maybe moved `toward or from the feedvch'ains 36 along the; rod 72 andthe set .screw` 76 iseinployed to `hold such member 74..;andfthe rods 78 and 79 in Vadjiisted position. l

.IVhile I have necessarily shoivnand described the preferred embodiment of my invention ,somewhat invdetail, iit isv to be understood ,that I .mayf vary the details of the constructionfand.arrangement of parts ',cliain, andmeansfor iinpartingan oscillatory ii'ioveinentto said lacing feeding means. 2. Inv an improved lace tipping machine,

ythe combination of a feed chain, means having an oscillatory movement for feeding a lacing of indeterminate length to said'feed chains, a lguide rod associated with said feed chains for guiding said lacing into association with said feed chains, a storage rod, and acam mounted on the end of said storage rodfor guiding loops of'lacing into storage position. n

\ 3. `In an improved lace tipping machine, the combination with a ilaceifeeding means, and rmeans for imparting an V.oscillatory movement thereto, of a frame, a` feed chain mounted thereon, and adjustable length determining means associated with said feed chains for predetermining the` ylength of lacing loops fed tofthe ,feedchains s. In an ini-proved lace tippingmachine, the combination of a feed chain, means `hav-- ing` -an oscillatory ,movement associated therewith, land for feedingr loops of lacing to said -feed chains, and adjustable length dctei-iiiining means associated with the feed chains;for predetermining the .length of ,lacing loops to befed to `the feed chains.

5. In an improved lace .tipping machine, the vcoii'ibination of a frame, a feed chain mountedgthereon, a main driveush'aft, means for feedingv loopsof lacing tothe feed chain, and ine-ans interposed between ,tlief drive shaft and the last .namedl nie-ans for imparting an oscillatory movement to said means. 6. In an improvedllaee tipping machine,V

CARL A. IVIATSON.V

invention, `what 

